Category: Poems

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What Happened?

Steve Rowe

What Happened? When I was a child and teenager in the 50’s and 60’s, The public owned it’s own services, Trains, buses, electric, gas, water and mail, And the profit helped pay for community services. Prescriptions and university education were free, Legal and union representation gave job security, Council housing and rent control meant everyone was housed, Equality was becoming a reality. With free education, social mobility truly happened, We had 2 Prime ministers from grammar school education, Anyone from anywhere could become anything, At last society was moving forwards and there was hope. Computers and machinery were designed to … Continue reading What Happened?

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Principles And Dynamics

Steve Rowe

Principles And Dynamics What is the difference between principles and dynamics? Both underlay technique, Principles are present all the time, But dynamics change and combine. The feet must always be in the right place, At the right time and press the right way, The body must always be aligned, And the mind always alert, focused, sensitive and intense. The breathing must always be deep and natural, The internal line always connected, The spine and core always being manipulated, And the ideas of wedging and spiraling always in place. These principles are what make a technique work, Combined they give immense … Continue reading Principles And Dynamics

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The Learning Process

Steve Rowe

The Learning Process The learning process of the mind, Is a specific process, It is important to understand, To be able to learn effectively. Shi Kon use a mnemonic acronym, As this is the best way to remember, If you refine this process, All learning will be easier. The acronym we use is ATARC, This is a specific order, One cannot be done effectively, Without the preparation of the other. A is for attitude, This is the most important, Unless this is in the correct state, Everything else will be wrong. Attitude is emotional intelligence, Putting nothing in the way … Continue reading The Learning Process

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Are You A Fattist?

Steve Rowe

Are You A Fattist?  Telling a person they’re fat, And should get their lard arse of the couch, And come down to your club or gym, Makes you the fattist. Every advert is about being skinny, Every pop up on the screen, It’s a ‘miracle’ pill or method, Preying on the weak. People are overweight for many reasons, Some have a thyroid dysfunction, For some it’s caused by medication, And some can’t move because of disability. For some food is an addiction, And some are emotionally disturbed, What makes it worse for all of them, Is that it’s there for … Continue reading Are You A Fattist?

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Dealing With Fear

Steve Rowe

Dealing With Fear Fear is healthy, Everyone has it, It keeps you on your toes, Unless it gets out of hand. Then it freezes you, Or makes you into a monster, Either way it doesn’t help, And turns you into a victim. There is no ‘quick fix’, No ‘little trick’ to solve it, It requires Kung Fu, That is time and effort. Every day you learn to watch your emotions, What you do and how you react, Unnatural fear is a learned response, That has to be unlearned. Every time you train, You train your emotions, Neigong means ‘inner work’, … Continue reading Dealing With Fear

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Death Is A Warm Blanket…

Steve Rowe

Death Is A Warm Blanket… You don’t even know you’re born, Well actually, that’s true, Because no-one can remember it, We become self conscious at a few years old. So why can’t we remember? Because we are still fully connected, And are pure universal energy, Until someone gives us a name. Drifting into sleep, is our name slipping away, We commune with our unconscious, While our name disappears, And we can regenerate. Meditation brings us back, Back to where we were as a child, The uncarved block, Energy without a name. The illusion of ‘self’, That which is named, Disappears … Continue reading Death Is A Warm Blanket…

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Eating Bitter..

Steve Rowe

Eating Bitter The Martial Arts are full of certificates and awards, Photographs with Masters, Everyone holding a fist up, What’s it supposed to mean? A certificate is a piece of paper, A belt holds up your trousers, A photo means you met that person, The value is what it means to you. A grade defines the relationship, Between student and the Instructor, It determines what classes are attended, And what the student is taught. It can also define status, The managerial structure, Instead of foreman, manager and director, We have sempei, sensei and renshi. If the instructor puts too much … Continue reading Eating Bitter..

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Direct Transmission…

Steve Rowe

Direct Transmission… Martial arts training teach manners, Manners and courtesy are a given, This enables people to get along, But then respect is earned. Respect is a two way street, It has to be earned both ways, An Instructor earns the student’s respect, And the student earns that of the Instructor. This is deeper than it first appears, There has to be faith both ways, Nothing is understood at first, Until both invest time and effort. When an Instructor gives physical correction, Sometimes the student is too stiff to correct, Sometimes he is too floppy, Often his mind is not … Continue reading Direct Transmission…

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The Deepest Door..

Steve Rowe

The Deepest Door.. Sit straight, Breathe deep, Focus the mind, And wait for it to settle. As moment passes to moment, Increase the intensity, Guard the senses, And think without words. The mind is the hardest muscle to train, Weak people give up easily, Training the body is easy, Training the mind is the real challenge. In stillness find the power, Find the deepest door in your mind, It will be protected by demons, But when opened is the font of wisdom and power. Your demons will always try to distract, Other people will play on your demons, Real power … Continue reading The Deepest Door..

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Putting The Egg In The Eggcup..

Steve Rowe

Putting The Egg In The Eggcup.. Putting the head in the foot, Is like putting an egg in an eggcup. The head is the egg, The arch of the foot, the eggcup. Why is this important? Is it even possible? The combination of head and foot, Is one of the most important in Tai Chi. What makes the ‘substantial’ and ‘insubstantial’? The ‘weighted leg’ or ‘double weighted’? If you can feel the weight of the head in the foot, You have to be connected through the body. Only when the egg is in the eggcup, Is that leg truly weighted, … Continue reading Putting The Egg In The Eggcup..